The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 159

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 159. Attribute Transformation, and….

Leading Nosferatu is Undying Diligence. And the corrupted Chastity and hideous Humility each command independent armies—essentially legion commanders of the Parasite forces.
Apart from the Queen, their main deity, there are arguably none higher than these seven beings in all of Parasite.
Yet they deploy three of them to sweep a single gorge? And add ten more precious nests on top?
Considering that two of the seven armies have temporarily left the Material World due to unavoidable circumstances, this amounts to committing well over half their fighting strength.
Waste was not a concern. It was a decree from the solemn Queen, and had there been surplus forces or leisure, they would have obeyed without question.
The problem was that this came immediately after the fall of Tigol Fortress.
[If we march toward Haramag, we’ll certainly emerge at Aden Gorge.]
Undying Diligence, hearing this voice, was seized by profound conflict.
The battle for Tigol Fortress had been a massive siege that mobilized all five armies remaining in the Material World, and after a long and fierce conflict, they had barely conquered this most vital of strongholds.
Even if the erosion were complete—but the Federation was gnashing their teeth, watching desperately for any chance to retake it. If more than half the main forces were diverted elsewhere, there was a strong risk of losing it again.
“…….”
They wanted to remonstrate that this could never be. If not for the terrible oppressive weight felt just moments before, they might truly have spoken.
[There is nothing to fear.]
Yet the Parasite Queen’s will was utterly immovable,
[All that is needed is to topple a single star.]
Based on observation of Constellation movements, her choices had never once gone astray.
[Then all things shall return to their proper place.]
All things, as they were before.
Undying Diligence closed their eyes tightly.
Yes. There must surely be a reason.
A reason the Parasite Queen valued a single star above even Tigol Fortress.
Setting aside their doubts, Undying Diligence bowed their head.
[I shall obey the command of the Main Deity.]

***

Marcel Gioinea’s membership was confirmed.
That day, after finishing training, Seol Jihoo called the siblings and introduced him formally. Of course, he also made sure to inform Cho Hong through a communication stone.
Marcel Gioinea was entirely removed from sociability. Though he treated Jang Maldong and Seol Jihoo with courtesy and politeness, he remained consistently cold toward the siblings, who approached him warmly.
It seemed less deliberate than simply his nature being inherently aloof. His tone was curt even toward Cho Hong, who appeared to be an acquaintance.
Still, seeing that Cho Hong wasn’t offended, Seol Jihoo thought he had no particularly sharp edges like some others, so he chose to respect it as an individual trait and welcomed the membership again.
Pi Sora, watching from the corner with an expression that seemed somewhat lonely, briefly caught his eye, but she soon excused herself.
Seol Jihoo, taking no chances, suggested that she might be resting back at the Carpe Diem Office, but Marcel Gioinea made an unexpected request.
“I would like to train together with you.”
“Training?”
“Yes. I have heard much of your reputation, sir. With such an opportunity having come, if it is no imposition, I truly wish to receive your instruction at this time.”
Jang Maldong stroked his chin, observing the keen enthusiasm burning in those eyes.
“Pushing someone who’s injured is a bit much.”
After membership was decided, Jang Maldong had relaxed his manner of speech as an elder among them. Marcel Gioinea seemed to prefer it that way as well.
“My body has already recovered completely. However, after so long in captivity, my senses are not what they once were.”
“Adding one more won’t really matter much… All right then. Let’s draw out your senses bit by bit, carefully, without injuring the body.”
“No, sir.”
Jang Maldong had spoken his mind, but Marcel Gioinea refused cleanly.
“I have heard well of your training methods. Please push me to the maximum. It would be better to do so.”
At this rather audacious request, both siblings’ faces went blank simultaneously.
It was the expression of someone who had just discovered a madman on the street.
“Ho….”
Jang Maldong could not help but admire this.
“There’s actually someone else who says such things.”
He tapped his palm with his stick, tap-tap, then let out a low, sinister chuckle. “Keh-heh-heh.”
“Good. If that’s what you want, I can oblige. Just don’t regret it.”
“Thank you!”
Marcel Gioinea answered with spirited vigor.
And the next day.
When night fell and Marcel Gioinea still hadn’t returned, Seol Jihoo set out to find him personally.
Though as an archer he hardly risked getting lost, the chuckling sound from Jang Maldong made him worry that perhaps the man had fled.
But fortunately, Seol Jihoo was able to find Marcel Gioinea near the lakeshore.
He was crouched there alone,
“Ugh… hic….”
quietly shedding tears.
Even an archer with a will as tempered as steel had no choice but to surrender to Jang Maldong’s infernal training.
“This is truly insane training….”
Hearing the quiet murmur, Seol Jihoo chuckled inwardly.
Even so, people remained people.

New members had joined, but the daily routine underwent no significant change.
It was a ceaseless repetition of grueling training, and that alone made the days blur together without respite.
Yet while the surface of his daily life remained smooth and unbroken, Seol Jihoo’s Status Window was transforming by the hour.
‘Something’s off.’
His physical stats were rising evenly, and his luck had increased as well—only his mana remained stagnant.
Of course, in his position, such a phenomenon would ordinarily be cause for celebration, but… there were too many oddities to ignore.
Things were progressing far too favorably.
After days of careful observation, his suspicion hardened into certainty. The more he trained, the more the mysterious energy that had seeped into his body was gradually assimilated, bolstering his physical capabilities.
Most striking of all—despite having drawn upon it quite substantially, the inexplicable force within him seemed limitless, replenishing itself beyond measure.
At this point, Seol Jihoo could no longer attribute his recent changes solely to the foundation he’d built through years of steady cultivation.
‘That snack.’
Now that he thought about it, the sudden acceleration had begun after he’d eaten that snack. No matter how many times he retraced his steps, no other peculiarity stood out.
And with that realization came a new question.
If Seo Yoo-hee truly was the source of all these changes, why was she doing this for him to such an extent?
He’d heard that the daughter of Lushulea nurtures talented Earthians and aids their growth, but this seemed excessive—far too much.
It wasn’t merely helping; it was devotion itself, like a tree that gives without reservation.
‘Why?’
Gripping his head and groaning, Seol Jihoo slowly glanced around. Seo Yoo-hee was nowhere to be seen.
Now that he thought about it, her behavior had changed noticeably of late.
She ate less, rarely ventured across Big Stone Rock Mountain, and had grown more prone to gazing skyward with a furrowed brow.
When he asked if something troubled her, she would only shake her head with a weary smile.
‘If I could see her with Normal Observation, my curiosity might be satisfied.’
He still wondered why the Nine Eyes couldn’t penetrate the defenses of both Seo Yoo-hee and Cheonji—but his musings were cut short when he heard rapid footsteps approaching.
It was Pi Sora, not the shuttle.
She stopped in her tracks and got straight to the point.
“Grandfather’s calling for you. Your girlfriend’s there too.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Right, right. Anyway, judging by your expression, it seems important—you should probably head over quickly.”
“Thank you for letting me know—Pi Sora. Wait a moment.”
Seol Jihoo hastily called her back before she could turn and leave as she usually did.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“Talk?”
“Yes.”
“S-sure, of course.”
Pi Sora turned back with halfhearted reluctance, her eyes gleaming as she stumbled over her words,
“I’m curious about something regarding Seo Yoo-hee.”
but then her expression went flat and listless.
“…What is it.”
“Do you happen to know her level?”
“No idea? Only she’d know that. But since she’s definitely higher rank, she’s at least level 7 or above, I’d say.”
“Then do you know Cheonji’s level?”
“Cheonji? Ah, you mean the head of that warmonger faction—Cheonji?”
“Yes, yes.”
“I don’t know. I’ve heard she’s a mage, but her level… no idea. Anyway, why are you asking?”
At Pi Sora’s question, Seol Jihoo scratched the back of his neck.
“Ah… I was curious about the difference between high-rank and higher rank. And about Leaders too.”
“Well, there are differences….”
“Could you tell me what you do know, if anything?”
Pi Sora wore a slightly more alert expression but opened her mouth readily.
“You know how at high-rank you choose a Main Deity to serve, right? Like, if you’re not going to branch into a dual class, you have to pick between Gula and Ira.”
“What exactly does ‘choose’ mean?”
“Simply put, you could say they come under its influence.”
“Influence?”
“The deity’s nature and inclinations. Take Gula, for instance—gluttony is their domain. When they see food, they feel drawn to it, often getting the urge to devour everything in sight. At the High-rank stage, it’s weak enough to suppress. By the way, the deity I serve is Ira, the god of wrath.”
Seol Jihoo had nearly asked whether that explained his fiery temperament, but he managed to hold his tongue.
“However, once you ascend to the Higher Rank and undergo specialization through the power of your chosen deity, that phenomenon becomes drastically more severe—an urge you cannot resist.”
Seol Jihoo tilted his head. He understood what she meant, but a counterexample immediately came to mind.
“But Seo Yoo-hee—”
“She’s a Higher Rank who serves the Goddess of Lust. Which is why she’s impressive.”
Pi Sora answered at once, shrugging her shoulders.
“Who knows? Maybe she suppresses it through superhuman willpower. As they say, you can see ten fathoms down into water, but never into the human heart.”
“Then… what about a Leader?”
Pi Sora placed the edge of her hand on her abdomen, then swept it upward to her chest.
“A Leader experiences that phenomenon at one stage higher than a Higher Rank.”
“The urges intensify even more?”
“That’s not all.”
Pi Sora wagged her index finger.
“Becoming a Leader means receiving the deity’s selection to become their apostle. It means transcending humanity and becoming a Divine Avatar.”
“A Divine Avatar?”
“It’s not just about receiving power—you directly and indirectly share the deity’s values, personality, thoughts, and actions. The influence is bound to be enormous, naturally.”
“Wouldn’t that make them almost like a puppet?”
“Not quite. There’s no compulsion whatsoever—their own will always takes priority. That’s precisely why they’re not called agents. Some call them avatars or manifestations, and I think there’s merit in that terminology… ah, my throat.”
He’d asked because he was wondering if Seo Yoo-hee was a Leader, which might explain why he couldn’t see her status window—but he’d ended up learning far more than expected.
“Are you alright?”
Pi Sora, rubbing her neck, asked.
“I’m fine. But you’d better get back—they’re probably still waiting.”
“Oh.”
Seol Jihoo dashed back toward the cave.

True to Pi Sora’s word, Jang Maldong and Seo Yoo-hee were waiting inside. They’d been deep in serious conversation, but stopped the moment Seol Jihoo arrived.
“I heard you called for me.”
“Lee Seol-ah. How much money do you have on you?”
The abrupt question left Seol Jihoo looking bewildered.
“S-sir?”
When Seo Yoo-hee also appeared taken aback, Jang Maldong cleared his throat.
“Hmm. You remember what I explained about Attribute Transformation?”
“Yes.”
Seol Jihoo nodded.
“But you said it couldn’t be learned in a short time—”
“Right. You have to grasp the Cultivation Method first, then gradually accept Thunder Qi and work toward transformation. But as it happens, a very good opportunity has presented itself.”
When Jang Maldong glanced to the side, Seo Yoo-hee slowly extended her hand.
Moments later, something that had been nothing but empty air solidified in her grasp and was drawn out—and Seol Jihoo’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t be startled. It’s a Sub-space, one of the unique powers of a Higher Rank.”
He’d only ever seen such things in novels, so the shock was real, though wonder gave way quickly.
His gaze was immediately captivated by what she’d retrieved.
It was a strikingly beautiful flower. A reddish bloom shaped like a golden chalice, like calendula petals arranged in a golden cup. And lodged in the very center of the tightly gathered sepals was a small, perfectly round crystal that radiated a soft, luminous light like a firefly.
“It’s a Soma Crystal. Quite lovely, isn’t it?”
Seol Jihoo stared blankly, thinking it would make a beautiful earring or ring if fashioned properly.
Then he suddenly closed his mouth and blinked.
Why were they showing him this Soma Crystal?
Jang Maldong spoke.
“The Soma Crystal is, in terms your eyes can understand, a form of Inner Elixir.”
“An Inner Elixir?”
“That’s right. If you could absorb it, your energy would become extraordinarily potent Thunder Qi. In other words, you could skip the process of gathering Thunder Qi through the Cultivation Method.”
Seol Jihoo’s mouth fell slightly open. In short, it was a cheat code that would let him bypass long, tedious grinding.
“And there’s one more thing.”
Jang Maldong continued as if his explanation wasn’t finished.
“Once you harbor this crystal, you’ll gain another formidable weapon.”
“Another formidable weapon…?”
“Soma Energy.”
Jang Maldong’s brief answer was followed by a more forceful statement.
“Immortal Flame—the fire that burns demons. A power born to incinerate demons. Considering that the vast majority of the Parasite army is rooted in the Undead… I needn’t elaborate on how devastatingly effective it could be.”
Seol Jihoo swallowed hard.
He wanted it. The atmosphere suggested he might receive it. But….
“Isn’t that incredibly rare?”
“And that’s saying something.”
Jang Maldong snorted.
“It’s not merely scarce. If Attribute Transformation merely resists demons, then Soma Energy is a power born to hunt them. Ordinarily, only the most exceptional Level 6 Earthians are granted such a gift.”
‘Come to think of it, Agnes’s class….’
A spider that hunted—or rather, pursued—demons?
He couldn’t quite remember the details, but it was a detail he couldn’t simply overlook.
“This item resolves that grueling, difficult process in one stroke. If it were auctioned….”
Only then did Seol Jihoo understand why Jang Maldong had brought up money.
“Sir. From here on—”
Just then, as Seo Yoo-hee spoke respectfully, Jang Maldong, who had been mentally tallying figures, caught himself.
“I’ve said too much. Seeing a flower that existed only in legend has left me so astounded… anyway, please, continue your conversation.”
Jang Maldong stepped away. With only the two of them remaining, an awkward silence settled in.
Seol Jihoo, whose gaze had been fixed on the Soma flower, turned to regard Seo Yoo-hee and asked earnestly.
“How much would that be?”
“Well… hmm. It’s difficult to quantify in money.”
Seo Yoo-hee, looking slightly troubled, suddenly broke into her familiar warm smile.
“If you don’t mind, could I ask for something other than money instead?”
“Of course. I have far more material goods than I need money anyway.”
Seol Jihoo, determined not to let this opportunity slip away, spoke with urgency, but Seo Yoo-hee shook her head gently.
“No. Not goods… I was hoping you’d grant me a favor.”
“A favor?”
“Yes. A favor.”
With that, Seo Yoo-hee carefully held the flower and smiled brightly.
“Would you like to become closer friends with me?”
Seol Jihoo, who had been tensed, suddenly doubted his own ears.
Since he’d resolved to accept almost anything short of stepping into Parasite territory, he was utterly bewildered.
“That’s… a favor?”
Unable to believe it, he asked once more,
“Yes.”
but the answer remained the same.
In that moment, a doubt he’d briefly forgotten surfaced again, and as if cold water had been poured over him, his hazy mind suddenly cleared.
Seol Jihoo gazed intently at Seo Yoo-hee. Her smile was, as always, endlessly gentle and comforting.
If he pressed and whined for it, she’d truly give it to him.
And yet.
‘…Why?’
Once doubt had taken root, it wouldn’t easily fade, and today that radiant smile somehow looked different from usual.
It wasn’t exactly unsettling, but a vague unease crept into his chest.
“That’s….”
Seol Jihoo’s mouth opened and closed,
“…strange, isn’t it?”
and finally the words spilled out.
Seo Yoo-hee’s eyes, which had been gleaming softly, widened abruptly. Seeing the youth’s expression harden, she quickly composed herself.
“No. I—”
“Why?”
Just as she was about to speak, Seol Jihoo cut her off with the question.
If he listened much longer, he’d find himself persuaded without realizing it.
So he asked directly.
“Why do you treat me so well, Seo Yoo-hee?”
A flicker of undisguised confusion crossed Seo Yoo-hee’s face.

(To be continued)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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